Wire-stretcher.



J. H. LEWIS.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLIOATIOK FILED MAR. 18, 1911.

1,069,556. Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

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PATENT ()FFlCl JOHN H. LEWIS, O F WEISER, IDAHO.

Specification cifiliett ers Patent Patented Aug. 5,1 913.;

vatsion filed March 18, 1911. Serial I0. 815,207.

T o'ail iiluimfiif may concern lle it known that 1, JOHN H. Luwis, a citizen of the United States, residing at Weiser, in the county ofNVashington and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and usefiul Improvements in \Vire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This "invention relates to improvementsin wire strctchers, and has particular reference to an improvement on my Patent No. 974,403, patented Nov. 1, 1910,

One object of the present inventionis to provide a device of this character which is simple 'in construction, and easy in operat lbnp I 5 Another. olojectis to improve and s im-l phfy. the guiding means for the chain.

Other objects and zulvantagcs will be apparent as the following description proceeds, but it Will be understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described maybe made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention. N

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation at the device, Fig': 2.'i's a horizontalsectional view through the device anda fence post, Fig. 3'isa plan'view of the device, detached. Fig. 4-is a secti'onal view 0n the'line "4 -4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direetion of the arrow.

Referringto the accompanying drawings,

lirepresents a fence post to which my device is adapted'to be attached when stretch- "in'gf wires. v

The device comprises side plates 2 held 'ih. arallel relation by means of the pins 3,

an on which are rotatably mounted the rollersj4. In one portion of the device, and

extending through the plates 2, is a shaft 5, on which is mounted the operating lever 6, having pivotally secured thereto an actuating pawl 7. the operation of which will be On the shaft 5, and centrally between the plates 2, is a sprocket wheel 8 to one side of which is secured a ratchet wheel 9, adapted to be engaged by a awl .10 mounted on a pin 11 on the inner si e pfthe'adj'acent side plate 2. Over the sprocket wheel 8, a sprocket chain 12 passes,

and is drawn thereover by means of the owl 7 acting on the teeth of the sprocket. w eel, when the lever ,6 is rocked. Pivotally mounted on th'efpins 3, by means of the cars 14 are the plates 13, to which are secured the chains 15, having the books 16 on their ends for engagement with the post. On one end of the sprocket chain is attached a wire clamp 17, which draws the wire taut when said chain is drawn over the sprocket wheel. Qn oneof said plates 13, the hooks are lunged to the plates 18, which are in turn secured to the plates 13. A leaf spring 19, secured to the lever 6, retains the pawl 7 in engagement with the teeth of the sprocket 8. A pin 20 passes through one of the side plates 2, and has an extension 21 on its inner end, which is adapted to engage to draw the chain 12 back'to grip the wire again for further stretching, the pin is turned'by means of the finger piece seen in Fig. 1. On the shaft, outside of the Plates, and between the securing nuts 5, and said plates, are the washers 2-2, which have the extensions 23, for pivotal connection of a wire grip 24. This grip 24 is used to hold the stretched wire when the grip on the sprocket chain is moved to a new portion of the wire, thus retaining the wire in a stretched position. In the opposite end of sprocket'chain. This device consists of. a

late 25 bent on itself as at 26, and has near ts opposite end and formed approximately at the center thereof, a downwardly struck tongue 27, which embraces the pin 11, to support the plate at that portion. On either side of the plate 25 are formed wings 28, which are bent upwardl and inwardly toward each other, and ave their vertical portions secured to the inner faces of the side plates 2. It will thus be seen that the wings 28 form the channels 29, through which the chain 12 is positively guided and prevented buckling, thus doing away with the yoke 18 and the spring 19 of my former patent referred to. The space left between the inturned portions of the wings, permits the free movement of the pawl 7, so that it can support and carry each link of the chain into the channels.

The operation of the device is simple. The drawing, it is only necessary to rock the lever 6 to draw the chain over the sprocket, which stretches the wire. -When it is defsired to obtain a fresh grip on the wire the free end of same is passed throughtlie grip the device, I dispose a guiding device for the arts being arranged as shown in the with the pawl 10 to press the same against the ratchet wheel, 9 and when it is desired 24, to retain the wir in stretched position, while the grip or cfsimp 17 is moved to a new position on the Wire.

What is claimed is:

In a wire stretcher, a frame, a sprocket wheel on the frame, asprooket chain engaged over the sprocket, an operating lever carrying a pawl, guide means for said chain comprisinga bifurcated yoke shaped filling plate, lateral wings on one leg of the bifurcation of the late, said wings being formed of upward y extending portions secured to the said frame, and inwardly turned portions to provide channels for the reception and-guiding of said chain, the free ends of the legs of 5 into the channels to prevent buckling of 20 .said chain.

In testimony whereof 1' afiix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

FRANK HARRIS, I. F. SMITH.

Copies ot this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addrcssing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0."

JOHN H. LEWIS. 

